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Patented Feb. I4, |899. C. H. CHILDS.

No. almas.

P L A N T E R .l

{Application filed Dec. 30, 189B.'Y

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Modem Swim/Magd' No. 6|9,388. Patented Feb. I4, |899. C. H. CHILDS.

PLANTER.

(Application led Dec. 30, 1898. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

26, yo'w.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I-I. CHILDS, OF UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHARLES II.CHILDS da COMPANY.

PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,388, dated February14, 1899.

Application filed December 30, 1898. Serial No. 700,742. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CHILDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- actdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafterdescribed,vreference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention,and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description andclaims.

Referringto the drawings, Figure l is aside view, part-ly in section, ofa hand corn-planter embodying my invention, parts being broken away.Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of my improvedfeed-plate. Fig. 3 isavertical central section through the hopper,showing the feed-plate and the means for adjusting the same. Fig. 4 is adetail perspective View of a portion of the bottom of' the hopper, thefeed-plate, and its adjusting devices, the parts being shown separatedto illustrate the construction of each separate part. Fig. 5 is a viewlooking down upon the feed-plate, the parts of the feed-plate beingbroken away to show the hopper-bottom and the discharge-oriiice therein.

The object of my invention is to provide a movable feed-plate forplanters having a series of apertures or pockets in which the capacityof said apertures or pockets may be varied as required for differentkinds and different quantities of seeds without changing the horizontalarea of the seed-deliverin g apertures or pockets.

In the drawings I have shown my invention embodied in a handcorn-planter of a welleknown type, in which A represents the standard,provided with a handle d, B the spout, b the delivery end, C theoperating-arm, and D the foot, all of well-known constructions.

The seed-hopper is preferably constructed in two parts. E represents thehopper-botn ing an annularlangee and a bracket-arm e",-

which is bolted or otherwise secured to the standard A. The bottom plateis provided-Y with a delivery-aperture e2 of elongated or ellipticalform and with a central recess e3, the side wall of which is slotted ate4 to receive one end of a reciprocating lever e5. The bottom plate isalso provided with a central aperture e, and the annular flange c isprovided With a slot e7, through which a pawl e8, carried by the levere5, extends into the hopper and engages the revoluble feed-plate, ashereinafter described. The iiange e is also provided with avertically-extending lug e, to which is secured a brush el", preferablyby means of a screw, the said brush being located directly above thedelivery-aperture e2 and engaging the upper face of the revolvingfeed-plate.

My improved feed-plate is constructed las follows and comprises acircular plate having a series of apertures therein, a second plateparallel therewith provided with a series of apertures corresponding iothose of the first plate, said second plate being provided with a iiangesurrounding each of its said apertures on one side of the plate, thesaid iianges telescoping into the apertures in the firstmentioned plate,and means for adj usti g one of said plates with respect to the other ina direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said plates.

In the construction herein shown, F represents the lower plate, providedwith a circular series of apertures f, corresponding in size to thedelivery-aperture e2 and adapted to register therewith as the plate isrevolved. The plate F is provided on its lower side with ahollow sleeveor hub f,the lower end f2 of which is reduced in diameter and passesthrough an aperture c in the lever e5 and through the central aperturee6 in the bottom of the hopper.

G represents the upper plate-in this instance the adjustableplate-provided with a series of apertures g, corresponding with theapertures f of the plate F, and having on its lower facedownwardly-extending ilanges g', surrounding each of the apertures g,said flanges being constructed to telescope and fit IOO within theapertures f, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The plate G is provided with acentral sleeve g2, which extends` downwardly within the sleeve f of theplate F and forms a guide for the plate G.

H represents an adjusting-screw, the lower portion of which is threadedand engages a contracted threaded aperture f 3 at the bottom of thesleeve f. The adjusting-screw H is provided within the sleeve f with acollar h, rigidly secured thereto and engaging the lower end of thesleeve g2 of the upper plate, so that by turning the screw H in onedirection the said collar will raise the sleeve g2 and plate G, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig.' 2. On turning the screw in theopposite direction the collar h will be lowered and will ,i permit theplate G to move downward; but

in order to make this a positive movement I prefer toV form a lateralprojection on the screw H above said plate G, and in this instance Ihave shown the upper end of said screw provided with awaslier h, abovewhich the screw is headed or riveted, as indicated at h2, it beingunderstood that the screw H turns freely within the sleeve g2.

It will be apparent that by means of the screw H the plate G can beraised or lowered with respect to the plate F, and the size of thefeed-apertures can be varied by increasing or diminishing their depth.By this means I secure the necessary variation in the capacity of thefeed-apertures without changing their horizontal area, and thus avoidall danger of clogging, which is almost inevitable where the area of theapertures is changed.

rihe lower plate'Fis provided on its peripherywith notches f4 to receivethe pawl es, carried by the lever e5. This lever is actuated by means ofa link c from the operating-arm C in a well-known way to impart anintermittent movement to the revoluble feed-plate.

.In order that the adjustment of the feedplate may be accomplishedentirely by hand and without the use of any tools whatsoever, thte screwHis provided with a clamping-nut and with a finger-piece, by means ofwhich it can be turned by hand, the clamping-nut being also providedwith means by which it can be operated by the fingers. I prefer to usean ordinary nut h3 in connection with a clamping -plate h4, adapted toengage the lower end of the sleeve f said clamping-plate being providedwith a square recess yh5 to receive the nut and with wings h6, by meansof which it can be turned simultaneously with the nut.

hv7 represents a wing-head having a threaded recess which is screwedonto the lower end of the screw H so tightly that the screw can beturned in either direction by means of the wing-head.- By this means theoperator is enabled to quickly adjust the plate F to vary the capacityof the feed-apertures, using his fingers only, without having recourseto a wrench, screw-driver, or other tool.

E' represents the main body of the hopper,

which is attached to the hopper-bottom by means of' screws or otherwiseand provided with a removable cover E2.

VVhileI have shown my improved feedplate in this instance applied to ahandplanter, I do not limit myself to its use in such connection, as itcan be used with good results in many other forms of planters.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A feed-plate for planters comprising among its members two parallelplates having corresponding apertures forming the seeddelivery aperturesand means for adjusting one of said plates toward and from the other tovary the depth of said seed-delivery apertures, substantially asdescribed.

2. A feed plate for planters comprising among its members two parallelplates each provided with corresponding apertures one of said platesbeing provided with projecting flanges surrounding the apertures thereofand telescoping within the apertures of the other plate, and means foradjusting one of said plates toward and from the other, substantially asdescribed. 3. A feed-plate for planters comprising among its members,the lower plate provided with a circular series of apertures, the upperplate having a corresponding series ot' apertures, and a flangesurrounding each aperture on the lower sideof said plate, said flangestelescoping into the apertures of the lower plate, and an adjustingscrew operatively connected with said upper plate for adjusting ittoward and from the lower plate, substantially as described.

4. A feedplate for planters comprising among its members the lower plateprovided with a central sleeve and a circular series of apertures, theyupper plate having a central guiding-sleeve fitting within the sleeve ofthe lower plate, said upper plate having a series of aperturescorresponding with those of the lower plate and provided on its lowerface IOO IIO

with a ange surrounding each aperture, said flanges telescoping into theapertures of the lower plate, and an adjusting device engaging thesleeve of the upper plate up and down to adjust the upper plate withrespect to the lower plate, substantially as described.

5. In a planter, the combination with a feedplate comprising among itsmembers two parallel plates provided with corresponding apertures, oneof said plates being provided with a flange surrounding each of itsapertures, said flanges telescoping within the apertures of the otherplate, ot an adjusting-screw provided with a hand operating device, formoving one of said plates toward and from the other, and a handoperating locking-nut for said screw, substantially as described.

6. A feed-plate for planters comprising among its members the lowerplate provided with a central sleeve and a circular series of apertures,the upper plate having a central guiding-sleeve tting within the sleeveof the lower plate, said upper plate having a series of aperturescorresponding with those of the lower plate and provided on its lowerface with a ange surrounding each aperture, said flanges telescopinginto the apertures of the lower plate, an adjusting-screw operativelyconnected to the sleeve of the upper plate, a hand operating device forrotating said screw to move the upper plate toward and from the lowerplate, and a hand operating lockingro nut for said screw, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of twoWitnesses.

CHARLES H. CHILDS.

Witnesses:

T. W. CORBALLY, F. E. SCHRADE.

